State Patrol sends a warning to motorcycle riders

Two motorcycle riders died and another is in critical condition after three separate crashes this weekend, prompting State Patrol troopers to send out a safety warning as spring weather improves.

Shortly before noon Sunday, a 49-year-old Oregon man died when he crossed the center line on state Route 401 on his Harley-Davidson in Pacific County.

An hour later, a 29-year-old University place man died when he lost control of hs motorcycle on state Route 512 near Sumner and hit a freeway median.

Also on Sunday, a 43-year-old DuPont woman was flown to a hospital after crashing on state Route 508 west of Morton.

“I find these motorcycle collisions to be very sad because they were all caused by the rider.” said State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste said in a statement. “These crashes, as with most collisions, were entirely preventable.”

There have been nine motorcycle fatalities so far in 2009. Seven of those were single-vehicle incidents, and the motorcycle drivers caused all nine crashes, according to the State Patrol.

Troopers urge people to take a rider-safety course and get a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license before riding.